Caring Contact Support Line in Westfield Sees Big Uptick in Calls Amid COVID-19

By JILL REED SIROTY

April 27, 2020 at 11:13 AM

Content Options

A volunteer takes a call on the Caring Contact hotline.A volunteer takes a call on the Caring Contact hotline. Credits: Caring Contact

By JILL REED SIROTY

April 27, 2020 at 11:13 AM

WESTFIELD, NJ — Caring Contact, which has been providing phone support to local residents since 1975, has made some changes in their operations, in order to continue taking calls from those who need to talk.

The organization takes non-crisis calls to their “warmline” from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, with one of approximately 80 trained volunteers available to listen. Caring Contact is also part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and answers calls from those in crisis, but more than 70% of the calls they take are from local residents who are calling the warmline to talk about their non-crisis challenges, often with anxiety, depression or concerns about a friend of family member.

“As COVID-19 became more widespread, we had a big uptick in calls to the warmline, with lots of people calling about anxiety,” said Mary Claire Givelber, director of community engagement and a trained listener for Caring Contact. “We are getting calls from people who are concerned about getting sick or dying, losing their jobs, about food insecurity. It’s across the board.

Sign Up for Westfield Newsletter

Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.

You have successfully signed up for the TAPinto Westfield Newsletter.

“We’ve had healthcare workers call us about what they’re seeing at work. And those who are considered essential at other jobs, who are thankful they have a job, but are scared to go to work.”

Givelber stressed the importance of their services during a time when people, who typically would not find themselves alone, are now alone.

“About 9% of our calls in early March were related to COVID-19, and by the beginning of April, it was more than 30%,” she added. Caring Contact is currently on track for a nearly 40% increase in calls this year over 2019, Givelber said.

To make sure they could continue answering calls from anyone who needed their help, Caring Contact made some changes to their call center in Westfield.

“When COVID-19 came along, we wanted to make sure that our space was safe for our listeners, so we could stay open. We have only one person in each of our call rooms at a time. We sanitize every morning, and listeners disinfect the space both before and after their shift,” Givelber said.

Caring Contact has also rolled out remote call answering, using secure lines, to ensure that there is always someone available to answer calls. They began with their trained staff members, then added their most experienced listeners, and will continue adding more listeners to take calls remotely.

“Our calls are all about connections,” said Givelber. “We are just here to listen. While we aren’t a referral agency, we may point callers to helpful resources. We have had Zoom calls with our volunteers to discuss the issues we are hearing in terms of COVID-19, so we are better prepared to be there for our callers.”

To speak with a trained listener at Caring Contact, call 908-232-2880 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. If you are in crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8225 (24 hours a day).

FT. WORTH, TX — Since the middle of March, the two-time Olympian Nick Delpopolo was strictly quarantining at his home in Ft. Worth, Texas. As the restrictions were lifted in the state, he resumed judo training with four teammates who were also following the same guidelines.

For Delpopolo, 31, associating with random people was not on his radar. That all changed on the morning of May 27 at ...

WOODLAND PARK, NJ — Thomas Minardi never thought he would find himself in the situation he's currently in. The 59-year-old husband and father of three has end stage renal failure and is on peritoneal dialysis every night in order to live. He's a former resident of Woodland Park and is now in desperate need of a kidney.

Minardi was scheduled to receive a kidney and there was a tentative date ...

WOODLAND PARK, NJ — Thomas Minardi never thought he would find himself in the situation he's ...

TRENTON, NJ — Some good news for teenagers who have been patiently (and not so patiently) waiting to get their drivers licenses.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Chief Administrator Sue Fulton of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission on Friday announced plans for a phased reopening of MVC facilities to the public following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reopening will proceed in a way ...

TRENTON, NJ — Some good news for teenagers who have been patiently (and not so patiently) waiting ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – One dozen local Somerset Patriots players and a few who'd like to join the team gathered at TD Bank Ballpark on a hot and humid Thursday for the first workout of 2020, an opportunity provided by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order on May 26th allowing professional sports franchises to resume practices,

“Right now it is all about doing it the right way and the safe ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – One dozen local Somerset Patriots players and a few who'd like to join the team ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — In an effort to help the businesses recoup losses caused by the pandemic, the town is allowing gym owners and personal trainers to hold fitness classes and trainings at municipal parks free of charge.

The program will prioritize Westfield businesses, with non-Westfield businesses being accepted once the local requests are met. Class sizes will be capped at 25 people and will ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — In an effort to help the businesses recoup losses caused by the pandemic, the town ...

MORRISTOWN, NJ — As of June 4, there are more than 162,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New Jersey. Although there is no currently available vaccine against coronavirus, Atlantic Health System is calling on its expertise and national reputation for conducting cutting-edge clinical trials in oncology, neuroscience as well as cardiology, to look for effective treatments for coronavirus and to ...

MORRISTOWN, NJ — As of June 4, there are more than 162,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New ...